Dark clouds hung low over Pentagram City. One of the city's rare rainfalls had arrived, covering the usual red sky with a blanket of dark gray. Water poured down from the clouds above relentlessly, occasionally accompanied by a flash of lightning which was followed closely by a booming clap of thunder. It swept through the streets and over buildings like a river, sending the many Sinners and Hellborn who called the city home scrambling for shelter against the downpour.

All except for one.

Octavia staggered through the flooded streets, pulling her jacket tightly around herself in a vain attempt to keep herself dry. The frigid rain had already soaked through her clothes, chilling her to the bone. Yet still she trudged on, all but numb to the adverse conditions she found herself in. The storm that raged around her was nothing compared to the storm that raged within her.

Octavia hadn't left home with any sort of plan earlier that afternoon. All she knew was that she needed to get away. Away from her mother's narcissistic prattling. Away from her pompous uncle. Away from the dreary, frozen confines of the palace she used to call home. Most importantly, away from all the memories. Memories of happier times with her father, now tainted by the unshakable heartache she felt whenever she thought of him.

And so she started walking. No direction. No destination. Just putting distance between her and the epicenter of her sorrow. By the time she had reached Pentagram City, her legs tired, her feet aching, her lungs burning, she had come to a painful realization: she hadn't escaped her depression. It had followed her, clung to her like a shadow, silently sapping her strength with every step, just as it always did. And it would continue to do so, no matter how much farther she walked or where she went.

After all, how can you run away from your own mind?

These thoughts swirled furiously in Octavia's head as she slumped against a wall, slowly sliding down until she was sitting on the wet sidewalk. Any determination she had was long gone. She pulled her knees close to her chest and buried her head between them. What's the point? She thought to herself, tears running down her face and mixing with the rainwater that drenched her head to toe. There's nowhere else to go. No one to talk to. No one who cares. Mum, Dad, Uncle Andre, none of them care about me. I'm alone. I'll always be alone.

Just as the dark clouds in her head threatened to consume her entirely, a voice caught her attention. She looked up to see an old radio sitting in the window of an antique shop. From it, a voice projected out: smooth, charming, but still tinged with a sense of hidden menace.

"And now a word from our sponsor. Are you feeling lost? Alone? Rejected and abandoned in a society that couldn't care less about you? Well, you should. You are in Hell, after all!" The voice emitted a short, mocking cackle. "But what if I told you that there was a place down here where miserable little wretches like you could feel just a little less miserable? Maybe even, a lot less miserable? That's right, I'm talking about the Hazbin Hotel! Fresh off of our grand reopening, the Hazbin Hotel is the premier destination for Sinners looking for warm beds, hot meals, and a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Our founder and proprietor, Charlie Morningstar, promises a safe, welcoming environment for those willing to humor her insistence on the possibility of redemption. So if you're a Sinner of fairer means looking for somewhere slightly safer to lay your head than the nearest dumpster, and aren't afraid of a little group therapy, come book your stay at the Hazbin Hotel!"

As the advertisement ended, Octavia's mind raced, replaying every detail of what she'd just heard. One detail stuck out stronger than the rest. Charlie Morningstar. She knew that name. Without warning, images flooded her mind. A girl, with bright blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and a smile that could light up the night sky, running alongside her through her father's garden, encouraging her as she struggled with homework, singing cheerful songs as they watched a brilliant meteor shower together. Such happy times, nearly forgotten.

Octavia pushed herself to her feet. This was a sign. It had to be. It had been years since she had last spoken to Charlie, but now, perhaps, she needed her old friend, now more than ever. Scanning the horizon, Octavia spotted the glowing lights of the Hazbin Hotel. Willing herself forward, she marched on, determined to reach its beckoning warmth. As she soldiered on through the relentless rain, her mind drifted, focusing on memories she had buried deep in the back of her mind, memories of a bond she had all but forgotten.

12 years ago…

In a dark corner of Loo Loo Land, Octavia sobbed into her sleeves. Even though she had escaped the spindly, cackling monster the other children had forced her towards, the fear still clung to her young mind. She had run as fast as her little legs could carry her, not caring where she was going as long as she got away. But now she was lost, her father, and indeed any other adults, nowhere to be seen. She didn't know what to do.

Suddenly she heard footsteps. Peeking out from under the wooden bleachers she was hiding under, she saw the beam of a flashlight, carefully sweeping the interior of the tent. At first Octavia was relieved. Someone was looking for her. But then she saw something that made her blood run cold. The beam of light was coming from a tall silhouette with long, spindly limbs.

The monster. It was searching for her.

Octavia shuffled quickly back into her hiding spot, hoping the monster hadn't heard her. She looked around frantically for somewhere to run, spotting a break in the tent fabric across the way. She had to be fast. Sprinting towards the break, Octavia pushed through the rough fabric into the blinding sunlight beyond it. She nearly made it to a large trailer parked nearby when she heard something that caught her off guard.

"Wait!"

The voice from behind her didn't sound like the monster. It didn't even sound like a monster. Octavia skidded to a stop and slowly turned to face the source of the voice. What stood a few feet away definitely didn't look like a monster. Instead, it was a girl, maybe 7 years older than Octavia. She brushed her blonde hair back out of her face and secured it in place with a red headband. Her plaid jumper, which she wore over a red sweater, was covered in wood chips which she casually brushed off.

"It's okay. I promise, I'm not going to hurt you." She spoke softly, keeping her hands visible. "Your name's Octavia, right? Your father Stolas and I have been looking all over for you. He's worried sick."

Octavia looked up at the girl who was now slowly approaching her. Her warm, friendly appearance was disarming enough, but it was the mention of her father's name that was the most convincing. She shuffled a few steps forward as the girl crouched down to her level, pulling a tissue from her purse and offering it to Octavia.

"I-I got scared when Daddy took me to the Fizzy monster." Octavia sniffled. "The other kids pushed me towards it. I couldn't see Daddy anymore, so I ran. I kept running and calling for Daddy, but I couldn't find him anywhere!"

"Hey, it okay. The Fizzy monster's gone, he can't hurt you." The girl soothed. "Can I pick you up?" Octavia gave a small nod, and the girl lifted her up into her arms. "Between you and me, I don't like the Fizzy monster either. He's not as funny as the real Fizzaroli." With that, the girl began carrying Octavia back to the main park area and the safety of her father's arms. As they walked, Octavia realized there was something she hadn't asked her new friend yet.

"What's your name?"

The girl looked down at Octavia with her same friendly smile. "My name's Charlie."